Reconstruction after pharyngolaryngectomy-esophagectomy

Abstract

Seventeen patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx and/or cervical esophagus who require total pharyngolaryngectomy-esophagectomy are presented; Twenty-one different reconstructive methods were applied in the seventeen patients. An overall two year survival rate of 35 per cent was attained with effective palliation in 65 per cent of the patients. The Wookey and free jejunal transplantation procedures were unsuccessful as primary means of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction, although the Wookey principle was occasionally useful in salvaging failures of other procedures. The reversed deltopectoral flap was successfully employed in a small number of patients with only minimal extension below the cricopharyngeus but was found to be unfeasible in several other instances because of the extent of esophageal resection required. Transposition of the entire stomach was successfully employed in a number of suitable patients and is an excellent method of esophageal replacement in relatively healthy patients. The reversed gastric tube esophagoplasty was useful in more debilitated patients, with resection and reconstruction performed in separate stages.